Federal election 2025: Mia Davies ‘superior’ to Liberal candidate Matt Moran, Nats leader Littleproud says

David Littleproud has lauded his candidate in Bullwinkel, Mia Davies, as being “superior” to other candidates contesting that seat — including Peter Dutton’s candidate, Matt Moran — as political friendships are thrown out the window in the battle for the prized WA seat. Ahead of his visit to WA on Monday, the Federal Nationals leader proudly proclaimed Ms Davies was a far better bet in Bullwinkel than his Coalition partner’s candidate. “We think we have a superior candidate who probably of all the field has the capacity to sit at the Cabinet table sooner, rather than later,” Mr Littleproud told The Sunday Times. “There are two great Coalition candidates. “(But) I believe the National candidate is better and more experienced. “I grant you that the Liberal candidate (Matt Moran) has worked for Malcolm Turnbull, but being a staffer is different to actually being in the cut and thrust of it. “I think it comes down to who is the best Coalition candidate and that’s how it will be fought on.” Bullwinkel, a notionally Labor seat with a 3 per cent margin, is shaping as a must-win electorate for both Mr Albanese and Mr Dutton this election. While Mia Davies and Matt Moran are running for the Nationals and Liberals respectively, Labor has preselected Shire of Mundaring councillor Trish Cook to run in the seat. Labor’s plan to ban live sheep exports is fiercely being opposed by the conservatives in what has become a major election issue in that seat. “The live sheep phase-out is vitriol for Albanese in the rural parts of WA, but much of Perth is upset about that as well and they don’t agree with that position,” Mr Littleproud said. “But also the Kalamundas, the Armadales, Forrestfields and those — there is a real sense of being left behind. “They are the forgotten people of Perth.” Sources say Mr Dutton believes the pathway to The Lodge includes regaining Curtin and Tangney here in WA as well as winning Bullwinkel. Although a win to Ms Davies would still see the seat land in Coalition hands, winning Bullwinkel is seen as vitally important to the Federal Liberals, who want to rebuild their brand here in WA. At the last election, the Federal Liberals lost not only Curtin to teal MP Kate Chaney, but also Pearce, Swan, Hasluck and Tangney to Labor. So important is Bullwinkel to the Liberals that John Howard was brought over to attend morning tea with Mr Moran, a former journalist who served as a public affairs officer for the army in Afghanistan and East Timor as well as working as a press secretary to then prime minister Malcolm Turnbull. For the Nationals, the election of former WA Nationals leader Mia Davies would see their first WA-elected member of the House of Representatives since Tony Crook. The Nationals and Liberals are also running candidates in several State seats, including South Perth and Bateman. While the relationship between the Nationals and Liberals nationally has been largely cordial as part of a Coalition arrangement, the relationship between the two conservative parties in WA has been anything but. So poisonous is the alliance between the WA Nationals and WA Liberals that they have had to draw up a code of conduct to make sure candidates of both parties are nice to each other during the campaign. Despite the no-holds-barred fight in Bullwinkel, Mr Littleproud maintains he and Mr Dutton have a “close relationship”. “We have a very close relationship, Peter and I,” he said.